Systems, Devices, and/or Methods for Managing Bowel Movements

ABSTRACT

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a footless footstool. The footstool can define a u-shaped cavity. The cavity of the footstool can be constructed to partially surround a base of a toilet. The footstool can comprise a non-skid base. The non-skid base is constructed to cause friction between the footstool and a floor surface upon which the footstool is placed such that the motion of the footstool relative to the floor surface is restrained when a portion of a weight of a user is supported by the footstool.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to, and incorporates by reference herein in its entirety, pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/129,529, filed Mar. 6, 2015.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A wide variety of potential practical and useful embodiments will be more readily understood through the following detailed description of certain exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying exemplary drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system 1000;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 2000;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system 3000; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a system 4000.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a footless footstool. The footstool can define a u-shaped cavity. The cavity of the footstool can be constructed to partially surround a base of a toilet. The footstool can comprise a non-skid base. The non-skid base is constructed to cause friction between the footstool and a floor surface upon which the footstool is placed such that the motion of the footstool relative to the floor surface is restrained when a portion of a weight of a user is supported by the footstool.

Humans can defecate while in different positions; such as squatting or sitting positions. The squatting position can be used when using a squat toilet or when no toilet is available. The sitting position during defecation is a standard posture seen in the much of the world because toilet designs often result in a user assuming a sitting position with their back erect and the knees away from their chest at approximately a ninety-degree angle.

An angle formed in the colon where the puborectalis muscle wraps around the rectum, is sometimes called the anorectal angle. The sitting position can result in a narrower anorectal angle compared to the squatting position. The narrower anorectal angel can result in a comparatively unrelaxed puborectalis muscle, which may cause difficulty in defecation.

Additionally, a sitting person might repeatedly exhale against a closed airway to increase internal pressure, which in extreme cases might cause syncope. A sitting posture might increase issues related to weakness in the colon wall because of more straining to defecate than might otherwise be the case.

The squatting defecation position is assumed by standing with the knees and hips sharply bent and the buttocks suspended near the ground. By using the squatting defecation position, the anorectal angle is increased as compared to the sitting position, which allows the puborectalis muscle to better relax and thereby reduce amount of effort needed to empty the bowels.

The advantages of the squatting position may be obtained when using western-style toilets in conjunction with footstool. Use of a footstool can cause the knees to raise toward the chest. As the feet are raised, the puborectalis muscle relaxes, the colon is better aligned allowing gravity to aid evacuation.

Certain exemplary embodiments result in easier bowel movements via a wood or plastic footstool. A user puts their feet on the footstool when sitting on a toilet while having a bowel movement.

Certain exemplary embodiments are approximately 22″ by 24″ by 5½″ in size. Other embodiments can have a thickness of between approximately 3″ and 6″ and have a u-shaped cross-section. Certain exemplary embodiments can be black color and have rubber or other non-skid treads on the bottom to avoid slipping.

Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a handle on a base of the u-shaped cross-section for placing the footstool in storage or in a position adjacent to a toilet. Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise durable materials, which result in a long footstool service life.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system 1000, which can comprise a footless footstool 1100 defining a u-shaped cavity 1200. Footstool 1100 can comprise wood and/or plastic. U-shaped cavity 1200 of footstool 1100 is constructed to partially surround a base of a toilet. Footstool 1100 can comprise a non-skid base 1300 which is constructed to cause friction between footstool 1100 and a floor surface upon which footstool 1100 is placed such that the motion of footstool 1100 relative to the floor surface is restrained when a portion of a weight of a user is supported by footstool 1100. Footstool 1100 can define a substantially planar bottom surface 1400, which is constructed to allow footstool 1100 to be stored while resting on the substantially planar bottom surface 1400 when footstool 1100 is not placed adjacent to the toilet. Substantially planar bottom surface 1400 can form a base of a u-shaped face of footstool 1100. Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise handle 1500, which can be coupled to substantially planar bottom surface 1400. Footstool 1100 can define a lifting cavity 1700. Footstool 1100 can comprise a foot platform 1800, which can comprise a non-skid surface. For example, foot platform 1800 can comprise a sandpaper like surface that resists motion of a foot of a human relative to foot platform 1800 when the human places the foot on foot platform 1800. In other embodiments, foot platform 1800 can comprise a rubber surface with tread.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of a method 3000. At activity 3100, a footstool can be fabricated. The footstool can define a u-shaped cavity. The cavity of the footstool can be constructed to partially surround a base of a toilet. The footstool can comprise a non-skid bottom surface. The non-skid bottom surface can be constructed to cause friction between the footstool and a floor surface upon which the footstool is placed such that the motion of the footstool relative to the floor surface is restrained when a portion of a weight of a user is supported by the footstool. The footstool can define a substantially planar bottom surface. The substantially planar bottom surface can be constructed to allow the footstool to be stored while resting on the substantially planar bottom surface when said footstool is not placed adjacent to the toilet.

At activity 3200, the footstool can be placed adjacent to a toilet for use. At activity 3300, a user can place their feet on the footstool while defecating. At activity 3400, the footstool can be removed from a position of being adjacent to the toilet. At activity 3500, the footstool can be stored, such as by placing the footstool against a wall and allowing the footstool to rest on the substantially planar bottom surface.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system 3000, which comprises a footstool 3100. Footstool 3100 defines a cavity 3200. Cavity 3200 corresponds in size and approximate contour to a base of a toilet. Footstool 3100 can comprise a foot platform 3800, which can comprise a non-skid surface.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a system 4000, which comprises a footstool 4100. Footstool 4100 defines a cavity 4200. Cavity 4200 corresponds in size and approximate contour to a base of a toilet. Footstool 4100 can comprise a foot platform 4800, which can comprise a non-skid surface.

DEFINITIONS

When the following terms are used substantively herein, the accompanying definitions apply. These terms and definitions are presented without prejudice, and, consistent with the application, the right to redefine these terms during the prosecution of this application or any application claiming priority hereto is reserved. For the purpose of interpreting a claim of any patent that claims priority hereto, each definition (or redefined term if an original definition was amended during the prosecution of that patent), functions as a clear and unambiguous disavowal of the subject matter outside of that definition.

a—at least one.

activity—an action, act, step, and/or process or portion thereof.

adapter—a device used to effect operative compatibility between different parts of one or more pieces of an apparatus or system.

adjacent—lying near or next to something.

allow—to permit.

and/or—either in conjunction with or in alternative to.

apparatus—an appliance or device for a particular purpose.

associate—to join, connect together, and/or relate.

base—a bottom or lowest part of something.

bottom—a lowest or deepest part of something.

can—is capable of, in at least some embodiments.

cause—to produce an effect.

cavity—a substantially unfilled space within a device and/or system.

comprising—including but not limited to.

configure—to make suitable or fit for a specific use or situation.

connect—to join or fasten together.

constructed to—made to and/or designed to.

convert—to transform, adapt, and/or change.

coupleable—capable of being joined, connected, and/or linked together.

coupling—linking in some fashion.

create—to bring into being.

define—to establish the outline, form, or structure of.

device—a machine, manufacture, and/or collection thereof.

edge—a border at which a surface terminates.

fabricate—to make, build or construct.

face—an outer surface of something.

feet—a end of a leg of a device and/or system upon which the device and/or system can be positioned.

floor—a substantially planar base of a room.

footless—having a substantially planar base that defines no feet.

foot platform—a surface of a footstool constructed for foot placement of a human.

footstool—a device and/or system used to elevate human feet above a floor and/or ground elevation.

friction—a resistance that one surface or object encounters when moving over another.

handle—a part that is designed especially to be grasped by a hand.

install—to connect or set in position and prepare for use.

lifting cavity—a recess constructed to allow a user to grasp, lift, and/or move a footstool.

may—is allowed and/or permitted to, in at least some embodiments.

method—a process, procedure, and/or collection of related activities for accomplishing something.

motion—an action of changing position from a first location to a second location.

non-skid—made to resist slippage or motion on a surface and having a coefficient of friction of at least 0.55.

partially—to some extent.

place—to locate or position something.

planar—a substantially flat surface.

plastic—any of a group of synthetic or natural organic materials that may be shaped when soft and then hardened, including many types of resins, resinoids, polymers, cellulose derivatives, casein materials, and proteins.

plurality—the state of being plural and/or more than one.

predetermined—established in advance.

provide—to furnish, supply, give, and/or make available.

receive—to get as a signal, take, acquire, and/or obtain.

rest—to place for support.

restrain—to cause a resistance.

store—to place during times when something is not being used.

substantially—to a great extent or degree.

support—to bear the weight of, especially from below.

surface—an exterior boundary of an object or body.

surround—to enclose sides or edges of at least a cross-section of something.

system—a collection of mechanisms, devices, machines, articles of manufacture, processes, data, and/or instructions, the collection designed to perform one or more specific functions.

toilet—a fixed receptacle into which a person may urinate or defecate, typically comprising bowl coupled to a system that flushes away waste into a sewer or septic tank.

u-shaped—having a shape of a capital U with relatively steep (relative to a bottom of the u-shape) and substantially straight sides and a rounded or flat bottom portion.

via—by way of and/or utilizing.

weight—a body's relative mass or the quantity of matter contained by it, giving rise to a downward force.

Note

Still other substantially and specifically practical and useful embodiments will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from reading the above-recited and/or herein-included detailed description and/or drawings of certain exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that numerous variations, modifications, and additional embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the scope of this application.

Thus, regardless of the content of any portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, unless clearly specified to the contrary, such as via explicit definition, assertion, or argument, with respect to any claim, whether of this application and/or any claim of any application claiming priority hereto, and whether originally presented or otherwise:

-   -   there is no requirement for the inclusion of any particular         described or illustrated characteristic, function, activity, or         element, any particular sequence of activities, or any         particular interrelationship of elements;     -   no characteristic, function, activity, or element is         “essential”;     -   any elements can be integrated, segregated, and/or duplicated;     -   any activity can be repeated, any activity can be performed by         multiple entities, and/or any activity can be performed in         multiple jurisdictions; and     -   any activity or element can be specifically excluded, the         sequence of activities can vary, and/or the interrelationship of         elements can vary.

Moreover, when any number or range is described herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that number or range is approximate. When any range is described herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that range includes all values therein and all subranges therein. For example, if a range of 1 to 10 is described, that range includes all values therebetween, such as for example, 1.1, 2.5, 3.335, 5, 6.179, 8.9999, etc., and includes all subranges therebetween, such as for example, 1 to 3.65, 2.8 to 8.14, 1.93 to 9, etc.

When any claim element is followed by a drawing element number, that drawing element number is exemplary and non-limiting on claim scope. No claim of this application is intended to invoke paragraph six of 35 USC 112 unless the precise phrase “means for” is followed by a gerund.

Any information in any material (e.g., a United States patent, United States patent application, book, article, etc.) that has been incorporated by reference herein, is only incorporated by reference to the extent that no conflict exists between such information and the other statements and drawings set forth herein. In the event of such conflict, including a conflict that would render invalid any claim herein or seeking priority hereto, then any such conflicting information in such material is specifically not incorporated by reference herein.

Accordingly, every portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, other than the claims themselves, is to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive, and the scope of subject matter protected by any patent that issues based on this application is defined only by the claims of that patent. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a footless footstool defining a u-shaped cavity, the cavity of the footstool constructed to partially surround a base of a toilet, the footstool comprising a non-skid base, the non-skid base constructed to cause friction between the footstool and a floor surface upon which the footstool is placed such that the motion of the footstool relative to the floor surface is restrained when a portion of a weight of a user is supported by the footstool, the footstool defining a substantially planar bottom surface, the substantially planar bottom surface constructed to allow the footstool to be stored while resting on the substantially planar bottom surface when said footstool is not placed adjacent to the toilet.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein: a handle is coupled to the substantially planar bottom surface.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein: the footstool comprises plastic.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein: the footstool comprises wood.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein: the substantially planar bottom surface forms a base of a u-shaped face of the footstool.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein: the footstool defines a lifting cavity.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein: the footstool comprises a foot platform, the foot platform comprising a non-skid surface.
 8. A method comprising a plurality of activities, comprising: fabricating a footstool, the footstool defining a u-shaped cavity, the cavity of the footstool constructed to partially surround a base of a toilet, the footstool comprising a non-skid bottom surface, the non-skid bottom surface constructed to cause friction between the footstool and a floor surface upon which the footstool is placed such that the motion of the footstool relative to the floor surface is restrained when a portion of a weight of a user is supported by the footstool, the footstool defining a substantially planar apex surface, the substantially planar apex surface constructed to allow the footstool to be stored while resting on the substantially planar apex surface when said footstool is not placed adjacent to the toilet. 